Taking a hike can be a great and wonderful way to expand our world views and rediscover new things about ourselves. Because we can often get so caught up in our day to day grind and routine, we often forget that there is whole world out there. Taking the time to explore that world through a simple hike or walk, where we can turn our attention to being fully engaged in our surroundings, can have an incredible effect on us that lasts even when the walk is over! Now, not every part of a walk may bring us to perfect bliss, but even these moments offer something for us to learn.
I was fortunate recently to take one such adventure to the Hula Valley. The Hula Valley is a special bird watching spot in Israel where birds migrating from Africa to Europe and Europe to Africa will stop off on their migration journeys. I had been waiting to do this trip for a long time because I am huge fan of birdwatching (I revel in my nerdiness)!
I saw a blue kingfisher from this spot!
And while I did see some beautiful birds, I also walked away from the hike with a few things that I consider even more valuable.
Learning to let go: When we got to the Hula Valley, I immediately knew that I wanted to be completely immersed in the scenery and therefore decided to walk the 6 mile trek instead of opting for the golf carts. What I did not anticipate is that everyone else would use the golf carts! Golf carts went wizzing by us, basically disrupting nature everywhere they went. Getting bogged down with the golf cart annoyance could have been the sum total of my thoughts if I had let it. But something interesting happened instead. I settled into the experience and saw it for what it was. Moments of majestic birds followed by an annoying golf cart passing us. Choosing to let the thoughts be, actually allowed me to let the thoughts go, so that when the golf carts were not around I could enjoy my bird paradise.
The mountains surrounding the valley made for some incredible scenic views!
Gratitude and humility: There is something utterly magical about watching hundreds of white storks migrating. Having the opportunity to bear witness to something so majestic in nature, filled me with utter gratitude. I also felt, in those moments, completely humbled by the incredible world around me where such grandiose moments exist all the time.
Three of the hundreds of beautiful white storks we saw!
Being able to see things from a different perspective: After the Hula Valley, we were able to take a trip up to the city of Haifa, where we were fortunate to get a wonderful view of the city from the Bahai Gardens. Looking at a place or a city, not just through how to get from point A to point B but from a completely different perspective was utterly refreshing. It made me realize how easy it can be to to see many things differently, not just cities, when we allow ourselves to take even a small step back (or in this case a step up).
Seeing Haifa from a different perspective at the Bahai Gardens.
So the next time someone tells you to take a hike, thank them and go take one!
Restartwell 